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Hydrangea Nikko Blue is a species of the genus Hydrangia. The variety was bred for cultivation in climatic conditions with winter temperatures not lower than -22 0C. An ornamental plant with long flowering is used for the design of gardens, personal plots, and urban areas. The culture is demanding to care for and requires adherence to agricultural technology that meets the biological needs of the species.
Description of hydrangea Nikko Blue
The main distribution is South and East Asia. Heat-loving wild species formed the basis of hybrid varieties adapted to temperate climate conditions. Particularly popular is the large-leaved hydrangea, which includes Nikko Blue. This is a perennial herbaceous shrub, growing up to 2 m in height, with a dense compact crown, completely covered with large spherical inflorescences.
Hydrangea Nikko Blue blooms for a long time: from June to the end of August.Inflorescences form at the top of the current year's shoots; perennials become lignified and form the basis of the shrub. The ancestor of the variety was a wild-growing species with white flowers, so the Nikko Blue hydrangea is white at the beginning of flowering, then becomes blue, and over time darkens to a different shade of blue. The inflorescences are corymbose, reaching 20 cm in diameter.
The flowers are large, four-petaled, with a beige or yellowish color in the center
It is difficult to define clear boundaries of the color range of a plant.
In an open area, the inflorescences will be brighter. If the soil acidity is closer to alkaline, Nikko Blue hydrangea is light blue, with medium acidity it is dark blue, and on neutral soil it is light pink.
The foliage of the herbaceous shrub is intense, the leaves are lanceolate, large, with finely toothed edges and a corrugated surface. The leaf plate is delicate green. By the end of summer a yellowish tint appears. The plant sheds its leaves before the onset of frost.
Hydrangea Nikko Blue in landscape design
Hydrangea Nikko Blue is characterized by long flowering and a voluminous, soft green habit; it is widely used in ornamental gardening. Goes well in composition with flowering and evergreen plants. Several examples of landscape design using Nikko Blue hydrangea:
- Group planting with hydrangeas of different colors to separate garden areas.
Specimens with different colors bloom at the same time
- As a tapeworm in the foreground of the site.
Lawn color accent
- As an element of a hedge in combination with evergreen shrubs.
Hedge along the path of the city square
- Planted in flower pots to decorate an enclosed recreation area.
Hydrangea Nikko Blue in the design of a summer veranda
The flowering plant also feels comfortable indoors.
Winter hardiness of hydrangea Nikko Blue
The crop's winter hardiness is low: within -18 0C, which corresponds to the sixth climate zone, in Russia this is the Black Sea coast, Krasnodar and Stavropol territories.
The central regions are in the fourth climate zone, where the average winter temperature is -25 0C and below. Nikko Blue hydrangea can be grown here only in pots, which are left outdoors in the summer and brought indoors before frost.
Planting and caring for hydrangea Nikko Blue
The crop will not bloom if agricultural technology does not meet the requirements. When planting, the composition of the soil and the location of the area allocated for Nikko Blue hydrangea are taken into account. By winter, the plant is pruned and covering measures are taken. Planted in spring and autumn, preferably at the beginning of the growing season, over the summer the hydrangea will get stronger and withstand the winter more easily.
Selection and preparation of a landing site
The plant will have a decorative appearance if the planting location is chosen correctly. The crop is characterized by low drought resistance; it requires constant watering, but it will not grow in a wetland, because it does not tolerate stagnant moisture. The site must be well drained.
Heat-loving hydrangea cannot grow without light. In the shade, the stems stretch out, the flowering is scattered, sparse, the inflorescences are small in size and dull in color.Hydrangea does not react well to direct sunlight at midday. The planting site is determined in partial shade, located behind the wall of a building or not far from low bushes, but taking into account that there is enough ultraviolet light for the flowering plant in the morning and evening.
The root system of the species is superficial, so close proximity of other crops with the same type of root is not advisable; due to competition, hydrangea may not receive nutrients in sufficient quantities. This factor will primarily affect the decorativeness of the shrub.
Particular attention is paid to the composition of the soil. Herbaceous shrubs will not grow on calcareous soil. With a neutral indicator, the vegetation of the above-ground mass is normal, with good stem formation, but it will not be possible to achieve blue coloring of the flowers. The inflorescences will be pale pink. Slightly acidic soil is the best option for seedlings. If necessary, the indicator is adjusted by introducing appropriate funds.
Landing rules
Work is carried out in the spring, when the earth has warmed up to 15 0C and above (approximately at the end of May). It is better to plant the crop on the site with seedlings that are at least two years old.
You can purchase planting material from a nursery or grow it from seeds.
Planting pattern:
- Make a hole measuring 60*60 cm.
- You can put pine litter at the bottom, it will acidify the soil, and sprinkle soil on top.
- Mix the turf layer with compost and peat in equal parts, add 50 g of superphosphate.
- Pour the substrate into the hole and fill it with water (10 l).
- The hydrangea is placed vertically (in the center) and covered with earth.
After completion of the work, the soil is not compacted, but watered again. Cover the root circle with last year's pine needles; the mulch will maintain moisture and acidify the soil.
Watering and fertilizing
Hydrangea Nikko Blue is moisture-loving, watering is vital for it, but waterlogging can lead to negative consequences. There is a threat of rotting of the root system and the development of a fungal infection. Watering is carried out depending on precipitation. For normal growing season, the plant needs 15 liters of water for five days.
The first year the plant is not fed; it only needs the nutrient mixture added during planting. For the next season, they are guided by the inflorescences; if there are few of them and they are small, they immediately add products containing potassium sulfate and superphosphate. This means that the soil on the site is not fertile and there is not enough nutrition for the Nikko Blue hydrangea. In subsequent years, in early spring the bush is fertilized with Agricola, and during flowering with Kristalon.
Pruning large-leaved hydrangea Nikko Blue
In regions with cold climates, Nikko Blue hydrangea is pruned in the fall, this is necessary in order to better cover it for the winter. In the south, cosmetic pruning is carried out in the spring. Dry inflorescences lose color, but retain their shape well; against the background of snow, the plant looks quite aesthetically pleasing.
Sequence of work:
- All inflorescences are cut off.
- Leave shoots one year old so that there are at least six vegetative buds below. If there are more of them, it will be difficult to cover the crown and the plant may die.
- Old stems are removed completely.
The bush is formed by 12 -15 shoots. In warm climates, more buds can be left on annual stems; in the spring, each of them will shoot and form an inflorescence. The height of the bush will be greater.If the plant overwinters in stationary conditions, pruning is carried out after the bush loses its decorative appearance. The height can be adjusted as desired.
Winter shelter for hydrangea Nikko Blue
They cover crops growing in open ground when the temperature drops to zero. The main task is to preserve the root and part of the vegetative buds.
Culture cover technology:
- The remaining leaves are trimmed from the plant, and the stems are tied with rope.
- The root is hilled up and covered with a thick layer of mulch; any material can be taken: pine needles, straw, sawdust. It must be dry.
- A cone-shaped structure is made around it from stakes or metal rods, the upper part of the stakes is pulled together, the lower part should cover the root circle.
- The height of the frame should be 15 cm above the tops of the stems.
Any covering material that does not allow moisture to pass through is pulled over the structure.
The lower part is turned out and covered with earth, pressed down with boards and bricks. After the onset of frost, the top is covered with spruce branches or covered with snow.
Reproduction
Hydrangea Nikko Blue can be propagated in any way:
- Seeds. Seedlings are grown from planting material and planted. After reaching 1 year, they are planted in separate pots. For the next season they are assigned to a site. The process is long and not always effective.
- Dividing the bush. If the plant is strong, but thickened and its age is more than 4 years, you can separate a part from the parent bush and replant it, it is better to do this in the spring.
- By layering. In the fall, during pruning, they leave a strong shoot, bend it to the ground and dig it in. In the spring, the hydrangea will take root in place of the buds. When the above-ground part appears, the cuttings are separated and replanted; it is better to do this in spring or summer (before mid-June).
- The best option is cuttings. During pruning, cuttings are prepared from the upper part of the current year's shoots. Place them in the ground and place them in a room with a temperature of 15 0C, make sure that the soil does not dry out. In the spring, the material will sprout, which are placed in separate containers and taken out to the site in the summer, and returned indoors for the winter. The next year the plant is transplanted to the site.
Diseases and pests
The immunity of Nikko Blue hydrangea is weak; gray rot poses a particular danger to the plant. The fungus appears as dark spots, first on the lower part of the stems, then covers the entire crown, and holes subsequently appear in the affected areas. It is unlikely that the bush will be saved; the plant is removed from the site and the soil is disinfected. Powdery mildew is less dangerous; it does not cause the death of the plant, but the bush loses its decorative effect completely. When a disease appears, the bush is treated with fungicides.
They parasitize on crops:
- leaf roller;
- spider mite;
- grape snail;
- aphid;
- scale insect;
- slugs
Prevent the occurrence of pests through preventive measures.
Conclusion
Hydrangea Nikko Blue is a decorative species with bright lush inflorescences. Flowering continues all summer. The culture is used in ornamental gardening. The Nikko Blue variety requires increased attention, as it is characterized by weak immunity and poor frost resistance. Suitable for growing not only on site, but also indoors.
